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Attempt to park in tight parking space dings another airplane

By NASA · December 28, 2023 ·

This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.

CFI’s Narrative

Post-flight, the student taxied the aircraft into the parking area.

The student picked a spot to park the aircraft. Student chose a route to that spot that was very narrow to navigate through. This route has been used numerous times by multiple pilots. This student had done this same route prior to this event without any problems.

At the time of this event there was a vehicle to the right and Aircraft Y parked to the left.

As we got close to the tight spot, I advised the student to slow his taxi speed.

I looked to the left for proper clearance and then looked to the right to check the clearance while repeating a command to slow down.

As I looked back to the left, the left wingtip made contact with the parked aircraft.

The airport should not allow vehicle parking spaces in such close proximity to areas where there are taxiing aircraft.

Airport management needs to be more open to the needs and safety of aircraft operating in tight spaces and provide boundary lines and centerline markings in this area!

Student Pilot’s Narrative

Just finished up flight and taxied back to parking at Riverside Airport.

A vehicle was parked to the right and Aircraft Y was parked on the left. The space between the two was very tight.

I was looking to the right making sure I was clear of the vehicle and I thought the instructor was looking to the left, but instructor was also looking to the right.

The wing tip hit the other aircraft. Impact occurred at 1 – 2 mph, as I was riding the brakes.

I should have been looking back and forth between both directions instead of mainly focusing on the vehicle.

Primary Problem: Human Factors

ACN: 2025098

About NASA

NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) captures confidential reports, analyzes the resulting aviation safety data, and disseminates vital information to the aviation community.

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Comments

  1. Chrisman says

    December 31, 2023 at 6:39 pm

    On taxiing back to the tie down I forego the closer space if I have to maneuver near other planes. I’d rather walk a few yards farther down the ramp. When being directed by ground crew and I feel not right or too close, I remind myself that I paid the insurance premium and I’ll have to file the claim not the guy directing me.

  2. Andrew says

    December 29, 2023 at 3:58 pm

    As a coach bus driver, I’m used parking backwards in tight spots. There almost never is enough space for a bus. Parking is a skill within itself.

  3. Tom Curran says

    December 29, 2023 at 7:17 am

    Those excuses coming from a 28,000 hour CFI? Unbelievable. Time to hang it up, pal.

  4. Carlos says

    December 29, 2023 at 7:15 am

    The CFI is the PIC in this case it’s your responsibility to make sure that the operation is conducted safely if in doubt there always is the famous comand “I got it” for you to take over
    Even under tow if you’re not sure talk to the tug driver or lead mechanic or just hold the push because once you signed that flight release it’s you airplane and
    Whatever happens is on you

  5. James Brian Potter says

    December 29, 2023 at 6:22 am

    Is there a chart somewhere tha shows the progressive increase in airplane insurance year over year? Must be about 45 degrees upward. Regards/J

  6. donald miller says

    December 29, 2023 at 6:01 am

    Bad instructor should have know better and to blame a parked vehicle or service vehicle they are all over many airport parking areas.

  7. Jay Lawrence says

    December 29, 2023 at 5:27 am

    I thought that was what a tow bar was for. Shut down and push or pull it into the parking spot.

    • Sarah A. says

      December 29, 2023 at 9:26 pm

      EXACTLY. Either move the aircraft the hard way or find another spot that does have acceptable room for safe parking. The mindset that the aircraft was going to go into that particular spot was the root cause. Any good pilot knows to constantly evaluate the safety of the maneuver they are engaged in, be it landing or parking, and to abort and try again with a better approach to the situation. And the instructor should have been an active participant, not just an observer. If they say slow down and the student does not, then it is up to them to take over and correct the problem before the airplane hits another one.

  8. Scott Patterson says

    December 29, 2023 at 5:05 am

    Thinking back during my training in the ’70’s, which CFI’s I’ve had that would have allowed this to happen?… 🤔 …..None.

  9. Chris Timmins says

    December 28, 2023 at 7:42 pm

    When in doubt, STOP. Period. Yes, it stinks that a vehicle is there, but if you are the only one moving in good visual conditions you have to own it. Part of being a good pilot is stopping when in doubt. No bonus points for getting through. I once had a co-captain get upset with me stopping while following a marshal through a tight space (Hawker 800) I stopped, shut down, got out. Marshal apologized because we caught him off guard and another aircraft crew came over and commented on how stupid it was for the follow me guy to take us down the alley. Co-captain stayed pretty quiet for the rest of the day. Your ticket is worth millions. Guard it as such.

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